By Hank Russell
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) said it will not accept a deal offered by the Presidential Emergency Board (PEB), which called for the agency to settle the contract dispute between a coalition of five railroad unions and the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR).
As previously reported in Long Island Life & Politics, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen was bargaining in a coalition alongside the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS), the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW), the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), and the Transportation Communications Union (TCU). Combined, the coalition represents more than half (55.08%) of the unionized workforce at LIRR.
According to the coalition, BLET members at the nation’s busiest commuter railroad, along with the members of four other rail unions, have been without a pay raise for over three years, LILP previously reported. The LIRR offered a 9% pay raise over three years, but BLET wanted an additional 6.5%. The LIRR said a possible strike would have affected 270,000 daily riders. In order to avert a strike, the LIRR engineers called on President Donald Trump to bring in a National Mediation Board.
The terms proposed by the unions include 3% raises retroactive to June 16, 2023 amd June 16, 2024; a 3.5% raise retroactive to June 16, 2025; a 4.5% raise effective July 16, 2026; a $3,000 lump sum payment, payable promptly after the agreement is finalized and ratified in full; and a payment of retroactive back pay to all eligible employees.
What we’ve been asking for since negotiations commenced more than two years ago is exceedingly reasonable, essentially the status quo. In stark contrast, the employer has been seeking a concessionary contract that doesn’t keep pace with the high cost of living in our metropolitan area,” said Mike Sullivan who serves as general chairman of the Brotherhood of Railway Signalmen.
Nick Peluso, the national vice president of the Transportation Communications Union, said both sides made their presentations to the PEB and, after reviewing the information, “the facts supported labor. It’s now the time for our employer and Governor [Kathy] Hochul to show some support for the workers. Let’s get this done and keep the trains running.”
LILP reached out to the MTA for comment. “The MTA is disappointed but not surprised by the Emergency Board’s report and recommendations.” John J. McCarthy, the agency’s chief of policy and external relations, said in a statement. “We do not accept them.”
McCarthy said the federal labor law, which has been around for 100 years, “has always favored unions’ arguments and preserving antiquated work rules over responsible budgeting and customer needs. Unfortunately, the flawed law is working as designed.”
Kevin Sexton, a national vice president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, said, “While we don’t agree with everything the PEB had to say, such as the length of the agreement and the raises were lower than our ask, this is a step in the right direction. Let’s use this report as guidance, get back to the bargaining table and agree to a fair settlement. We can settle this and take away the threat of a disruption in service.”
“Our riders deserve better than that,” McCarthy countered. “We look forward to continuing this process.”